What are the best practices for storing image files in a database versus in a directory on the server in PHP applications?

Storing image files in a database can lead to increased database size and slower performance, while storing them in a directory on the server allows for easier access and faster retrieval. It is generally recommended to store image files in a directory on the server and store the file path in the database for easy retrieval. 

// Store image file in a directory on the server
$uploadDir = 'uploads/';
$uploadFile = $uploadDir . basename($_FILES['image']['name']);

if (move_uploaded_file($_FILES['image']['tmp_name'], $uploadFile)) {
    echo "File is valid, and was successfully uploaded.";
} else {
    echo "Possible file upload attack!";
}

// Store file path in the database
$imagePath = $uploadFile;
$query = "INSERT INTO images (image_path) VALUES ('$imagePath')";
// Execute query to store image path in the database

Keywords

file storage database directory server PHP applications

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